Morris Park businesses ‘shockingly healthy’
despite challenges of COVID-19: BID
Boon Cafe recently opened on Morris Park Avenue. Photo by Alex Mitchell
BRONX TIMES R 4 EPORTER, JAN. 8-14, 2021
Bronx Times Reporter (USPS#730390) Copyright © 2021
by the Bronx CNG LLC is published weekly by Bronx
CNG LLC, 3604 East Tremont Avenue, Bronx, NY 10465.
52 times a year. Business and Editorial Offices: 3604
East Tremont Avenue, Bronx, NY 10465. Accounting
and Circulation Offices: Bronx CNG LLC, 3604 East
Tremont Avenue, Bronx, NY 10465. Call 718-260-2500
to subscribe. Periodicals postage prices is paid at New
York, N.Y., and additional mailing offices One Metrotech
North, 10th floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 Postmaster: Send
address changes to Bronx Times Reporter, One Metrotech
North, 10th floor Brooklyn, NY 11201
Mail: Bronx Times
3604 E. Tremont Ave.,
Bronx, NY 10465
To Subscribe: (718) 260-4595
General Phone: (718) 260-4595
General Fax: (718) 518-0038
News Phone: (718) 260-4597
News E-Mail:
bronxtimes@schnepsmedia.com
Sports Phone:
(718) 260-4597
Sports E-Mail:
bronxtimes@schnepsmedia.com
Display Phone:
(718) 260-4593
Classified Phone:
(718) 260-2500
Display/Classified E-Mail:
bronxtimes@schnepsmedia.com
2020
Offi ces:Offi ces:offi ces fl oor fl oor BY ALEX MITCHELL
It’s hard to believe, but there has
been great news for the Bronx’s local
economy in the past year.
Morris Park’s business community
has remained “shockingly healthy”
despite all adversity presented by
COVID-19, according to Morris Park
Business Improvement District executive
director, Camelia Tepelus.
She told that 12 business in her district
have opened since the pandemic
began, fi ve of which came in October of
2020 in a trend polar opposite elsewhere
around New York City.
Even two business which went under
during 2020 were promptly replaced, according
to the executive director, who
has been hearing harrowing stories
from fellow BID operators in recent
weeks and months.
Overall since the BID was incepted
two years ago, Telepus said things have
been “going really, really well,” Tepelus
said.
She continued to explain that a prepandemic
city planning survey found
both Morris Park and Kingsbridge of
the west Bronx to be some of the city’s
most resilient business districts with
the highest rates of survival, something
she credited to “organic demand”
from the almost entirely family owned
shops.
That unique, local need and frequent
foot traffi c was maintained to be the
“bread and butter” of Morris Park businesses
these past few months, something
Telepus fi nds exceptional considering
the area’s lack of mass transit
besides a single 5 train subway station
on Esplanade.
Some of those newly opened businesses
in the area include a spa, real
estate offi ce, along with two tax offi
ces, which Telepus says will likely
see a socially distant fl ood of clients as
April of 2021 approaches.
Even a new cafe has managed to
open its doors in Morris Park near
White Plains Road during 2020.
Though, the director did express
concerns over Governor Andrew Cuomo’s
now weeks long sequel halt of indoor
dining, saying, “I don’t think this
is sustainable in the long run.”
Next to Arthur Avenue, Morris Park
Road is one of the borough’s most vibrant,
Italian restaurant corridors
which has naturally faced the challenge
of serving only in outdoors in frigid
temperatures and a past blizzard.
Along with many others, Telepus
fails to see Cuomo’s justifi cation in the
indoor dining crackdown, citing evidence
that only 1.4% of COVID-19 infections
are restaurant borne.
“It’s very hard,” she said, adding that
restaurants are not only concerned, but
do not see value in collecting PPP funds
if they can’t sell food or operate under
decent circumstances.
Despite the ongoing challenge for all
restaurants, the considerable success of
Morris Park’s economy in 2020 was recognized
in the Wall Street Journal.
link
link
link
link
link
link